The battle of wits over the fee for MBBS course in private self-financing medical colleges now looks set to spill over to the Kerala High Court on a day the Fee Regulatory Commission came out with its fee package for the course.
During discussions with the government, representatives of the private medical colleges management association were firm and unyielding on the issue of fee; they demanded ₹15 lakh for 85% of the seats and ₹20 lakh for the NRI seats. The government took a firm stance on the issue and refused to play ball.
The Fee Regulatory Committee on Monday published an order provisionally fixing fee for the MBBS course. The committee formula allowed colleges to charge ₹5.5 lakh for 85% of the seats and ₹20 lakh for the NRI quota. “This is totally unacceptable,” association secretary Anilkumar Vallil said.
“We were discussing the issue with the government. All of a sudden the Fee Regulatory Committee comes out with its order. The fee decided upon by the committee is an exercise in unilateralism. We will definitely move the Kerala High Court,” he said.
Panel’s stance
Chairman of the Fee Regulatory Committee R. Rajendra Babu told The Hindu that only two colleges had so far submitted the prospectus and documents showing annual expenses. The committee, in its order on June 26, directed all colleges to produce documents within two months.
“That is why we have fixed a provisional fee now. The final fee will be fixed later in accordance with the provision of the law. After scrutinising the documents the committee will, if the need arises, hold hearings of the colleges,” he said. “Taking into consideration the fee charged last year, the figure of ₹15 lakh just cannot be allowed. It is pure profiteering,” Mr.Babu added.
